The Outdoor Road to Walking...

Some kids just up and start walking. June Bug wants to be a walker, but he was an early crawler at 7 months and he knows he's fast on all-fours. I mean it's frightening the speed at which he can get from A to B. He starting to give the cats a run for their money. Needless to say they are not happy with June Bug's growing speed. But walking is really what he wants to do.

Some days I can actually see him thinking, I'll just walk over there, but for whatever reason, his next move it to fling his upper body forward and just sort of hope that his feet follow suit. Yeah, they don't, and he usually ends up flopping down like a fish out of water. I try not to laugh, but he's usually giggling has he goes down.  What's funnier, is I've seen him march across his room. But some days the feet and the brain just don't communicate. So for now, while indoors he still favors the tried-and-true crawling. Outdoors however is another story.

Plants are captivating.

While sitting at Starbucks this morning he proceeded to circle the table, the chairs and then attempt to escape the patio via half-walking, half-cruising.  When his little red car takes a trip outside, he would rather push than be pushed. And like everyone should he always stops to smell the flowers or mutilate them, but I like to think he's picking flowers for mama. Something about the fresh air and California sun that must inspire his confidence.

One day this kid is going to just up and run when I'm not looking. And my guess is it'll not be in the safe confines of home...thus provoking a favorite, child-rearing debate, one which clearly divides all parents into two very distinct groups:
pro- vs. anti-child-leash
and discuss....

Just for you!